230. Books on Christianity

Further Reading:

Karl Barth Evangelical Theology: An Introduction, 1963.

Theologian Karl Barth gives his perspective on evangelical theology. The book was republished in 1979.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Letters and Papers from Prison, 1951.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer exchanged these letters with his family during the two years he was imprisoned for participating in the German Resistance movement against the Nazis. At the end of the two years, Bonhoeffer was executed. The letters he left behind showcase his theology and courage.

Gresham Machen Christianity and Liberalism, 1922.

Gresham Machen defends orthodox Christianity against the encroachment of the mainline liberal theology of the early 20th century. His arguments are still influential today.

John Stott Basic Christianity, 1958.

John R. W. Stott was named by Time magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2005. This is his explanation of Jesus Christ’s life and what it means for the faith.

231. Books on God

Paul Coutinho How Big Is Your God: The Freedom to Experience the Divine, 2007.

Paul Coutinho draws on many faith traditions to challenge believers to examine their relationship with God.

J.I. Packer Knowing God, 1973.

Evangelical theologian J.I. Packer helps believers understand the Christian concept of God and how to develop a close, personal relationship with the divine.

Philip Yancey Disappointment with God: Three Questions No One Asks Aloud, 1992.

Have you ever wondered why bad things happen? Philip Yancey looks at what the Bible says about these troubling issues. Yancey concludes we are urged not to love God for what he can do for us but for who he is.

232. Books on Jesus Christ & his family

Paula Fredriksen Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews: A Jewish Life and the Emergence of Christianity, 2000.

Professor Paula Fredriksen stresses that, outside the scriptures, we have no historical evidence about Jesus of Nazareth other than the fact that he was crucified. To piece together his life, she examines the historical period, Paul’s letters, the gospels, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the histories of Josephus.

For more information on the Further Reading series, see Further Reading: Start Here.